Refrigerator



Dec. 5, 1939. s. NI. BACKSTROM 2,182,273

REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov. 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. g. a T 2 2 fWk k9 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Application November 30, 1936, Serial No. 113,405 In Germany December 6, 1935 2 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerators, and has for its object the provision of an improvement in refrigerators by mounting the refrigeration apparatus on a frame and securing the frame to the cabinet in such a manner that the latter is strengthened.

The invention, together with the objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction 1,0 with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and of which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a refrigerator embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlfi larged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 to illustrate more clearly parts of the refrigerator; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 2 to illustrate the manner in which the rear legs are secured to 20 the refrigerator; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the part of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention embodied in a refrigerator comprising a cabinet it provided with legs H and having g5 thermally insulated walls l2 defining a storage compartment l3 into which access may be had by a door Hi hinged to the front of the cabinet. The side and top walls of an outer shell l5 of the cabinet extend or project beyond a metal plate to so of the rear insulated wall of the storage compartment l3 to provide a space H which is substantially the height of the cabinet.

The refrigeration apparatus I have shown in connection with my invention is of an absorption type which contains an auxiliary pressure equalizing gas. the particular refrigeration apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that other types of refrigeration apparatus may be employed. Referring w more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the refrigeration apparatus comprises a cooling unit which is arranged within the storage compartment l3 and includes a metal shell l8 within which is arranged an evaporator l9. A refrigerant fluid, such as ammonia, flows into the evaporator I9 through a conduit 20 and evaporates and diffuses therein into an inert pressure equalizing gas, such as hydrogen, which enters the evaporator through an inner passage of a gas heat exchanger 2|. The

50 evaporation and diffusion of refrigerant into the inert gas takes place with absorption of heat from the surroundings of the evaporator l9, thereby producing cold in the storage compartment |3. The resulting gaseous mixture of refrigerant and inert gas flows from the evaporator I9 through an It is to be understood, however, that,

outer passage of the gas heat exchanger 2| and vertical conduit 22 which is connected at its lower end to the lower end of an absorber 23. The absorber 23 is adapted to be air-cooled and comprises a looped coil provided with a plurality 6 of fins or heat dissipating elements 24.

The refrigerant gas isabsorbed by a suitable absorption liquid, such as water, which enters the upperpart of the absorber 23 through a vertical conduit 25. The inert gas returns to the evaporator l9 through the inner passage of the gas heat exchanger 2|, and the enriched absorption liquid passes through the lower end of conduit 22 to a vessel 26 which serves as a storage vessel for the absorption liquid. From the vessel 26 the enriched absorption liquid flows through a liquid heat exchanger to a generator, the liquid heat exchanger and generator being arranged within shells 21 and 28, respectively, which contain a suitable heat insulating material. The generator is heated in any suitable manner, as by a gas burner (not shown), which is adapted to project a flame into the lower end of a flue 29 which extends vertically upward through the generator. By heating the generator the refrigg erant is expelled from the absorption liquid and flows upward through an air-cooled rectifier 30 which condenses water vapor which may accompany the refrigerant vapor. Water condensed in the rectifier drains back to the generator, and 30 the refrigerant vapor flows upward to an aircooled condenser 3| comprising a coil provided with a plurality of fins or heat dissipating elements 32. The refrigerant is liquefied in the condenser 3i and flows through the conduit 20 to the evaporator iii to complete the refrigerating cycle. The weakened absorption liquid from which the refrigerant has been expelled is conducted from the generator through the liquid heat exchanger and conduit 25 to the absorber 23 to absorb refrigerant vapor.

To the lower end of the condenser 3|is connected a conduit 33 which extends upward and then downward and is connected at its lower end to the gas circuit at the gas heat exchanger 2|; 5 so that any refrigerant which is not liquefied or inert gas can flow to the gas circuit and not be trapped in the condenser. The a gas heat exchanger 2| transfers heat from gas which is weak in refrigerant and flowing to the evaporator I9 to gas which is rich in refrigerant and flowing to the absorber 23, and the liquid heat exchanger arranged within the shell 2'! serves to transfer heat from absorption liquid which is weak in refrigerant and flowing to the absorber 23 to partment I3 when the cover isfitted into the absorber 23.

. The various parts or elements and connecting conduits of the refrigeration apparatus just described are formed of metal and permanently secured together, as by welding, for example, to provide a hermetically closed system. In order to arrange the evaporator I9 within the storage compartment, the rear thermally insulated wall I2 is provided with an opening having a removable wall part or cover 34. The cover 34 comprises spaced inner and outer liners 35 and 36, respectively, containing a suitable insulating material. The outer liner 36 is of greater area than the opening and extends upward to the top of the cabinet, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The gas heat exchanger 2| extends through an opening in the cover 34, so that the evaporator I9 can readily be placed in the position within the comopening.

In accordance with my invention, the refrigeration apparatus is mounted on a frame 31 which is adapted to be secured to the edges of the extended side walls of the outer shell I5, so that the cabinet I9, and particularly the side walls thereof, are reenforced and strengthened. The frame 31 is rectangular in shape and may be formed of angle members which are secured together at their ends in any suitable manner, as by welding, for example. The shell 28 within which is disposed the generator may be welded to the frame 31 so that it extends along one side of the frame, and the shell 21 within which is arranged the liquid heat exchanger may be mounted on a plate 21 which is secured to the bottom horizontal member of the frame adjacent to the shell 28. To the bottom horizontal angle member ofthe frame is secured, as by welding, a plate 38 to which is secured the vessel 26.

A horizontal angle member 39 having one end secured to a vertical member of the frame and the other end secured to the upper part of the shell 28 is provided to support additional parts of the refrigeration apparatus. To the angle memher 39 are secured two depending brackets 40 and 4I to which are secured the outer end of the gas heat exchanger 2| and one of the fins 24 of the absorber 23, respectively. The bracket 4| comprises two angle members which are at right.

angles to each other with the vertical arm of the top angle member parallel to the vertical armof the angle member 39 and the vertical arm of the lower angle member parallel to the fin 24 to which it is secured. The condenser 3| is supported by two brackets 42 and 43 which are secured to fins 32 at opposite ends of the condenser and to the outer liner 36 of the cover 34 and a vertical side of the frame 31, respectively.

"It will now be understood that the refrigeration apparatus is rigidly mounted on the open frame 31, and that the frame 31, refrigeration apparatus, and removable cover 34 form a unitary structure. In order to secure the frame 31 to the-extendedside walls of the' outer shell I5, suitable vertical angle members 44 are secured, as by welding, to the extreme ends of these walls, the members 44 extending substantially the full height of the cabinet III with one side or arm extended inwardly to form in effect inwardly bent edge portions of the side walls. The frame 31 is secured to the vertical angle members 44 at a number of points, as indicated at 45, so that the cover 34 will tightly fit in the opening and effectively seal the rear insulated wall I2 of the storage compartment I3.

All of the parts of the refrigeration apparatus are preferably mounted on one side of the open frame 31, so that they will occupy the space I1 provided by the extended side walls of the outer shell I5. The top of the outer shell I above the space I1 is provided with. an opening 46, and adjacent the forward part of this opening is secured a baffle plate 41. The refrigerator may be positioned against a wall or a thin metal plate (not shown) may be secured to the open frame 31 to form a flue whereby a natural draft is produced in the space I1 by the hot products of combustion discharged from the generator fiue 29 and heat rejecting parts of the apparatus to cause an upward circulation of air.

By securing the frame 31 to the rear edge portions of the side walls of the outer shell I5," the rear legs or feet II may be made the same as the front legs of the refrigerator and secured directly to the frame 31 and side walls of the outer shell I5. Referring to Fig.4, horizontal angle members 48 are secured, as by welding, to the bottom edges of the side walls of the outer shell I5. The top flanges formed on the legs II are secured directly to the angle members 48 and bottom horizontal angle members of the frame 311, as indicated at 49.

It will now be understood that a refrigerator has been provided in which the refrigeration apparatus is first mounted on a frame rather than directly on the cabinet, and that the frame is secured to the edges of the extended side walls of the refrigerator in such a-manner that the side walls are strengthened and reenforced. The extended side walls of the refrigerator provide a space which is occupied by the refrigeration apparatus whereby the latter is concealed. With this construction, the assembly of the cabinet proper and the refrigeration apparatusis facilitated in that the entire apparatus can be assembled and mounted on the frame, and the frame then remcvably secured directly to the cabinet proper in such a manner that the refrigerator as a whole is reenforced. Such reenforcing of the refrigerator permits the use of rear legs or feet which are identical to the front legs and can be secured to the reenforced or strengthened part of the refrigerator. 7

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as pointed out in the following claims. I

What is claimed is: 1. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a thermally insulated storage compartment and spaced sheet metal walls forming a vertically elongated space adjacent thereto; an open frame comprising metal members secured together to 5 form a rigid structure; absorption refrigeration apparatus comprising a generator, absorber, condenser, evaporator, and conduit means connecting said aforementioned parts to form a hermetically closed system; and means for removably securing said frame to said walls adjacent the edges thereof to strengthen such walls; said refrigeration apparatus being mounted on said frame so as to occupy said vertically elongated space.

2. In a refrigerator comprising a cabinet and a removable refrigeration unit, outer sheet metal walls forming the exterior of said cabinet, means forming a thermally insulated storage compartment within said outer sheet metal walls, said outer sheet metal walls extending beyond said storage compartment to form an apparatus compartment, and a rigid frame, said refrigeration apparatus being mounted on said frame, and said frame being secured to the extended portions of said outer sheet metal walls to reenforce the latter.

SIGU'RD MATI'IAS BACKSTROM. 

